Prayer

[Micilin]

Please don't read this if your religious beliefs are likely to be threatened by logic and facts.


http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2012/02/prayer-absolutely-positively-does-not-work/

I'm less engaged by the one off example, than the 'whistling lawn mower' analogy

 

[Dextraneous]

It doesn't prove anything at all

One could argue that since everything effects everything (butterfly effect), that the whistling did indeed contribute the lawn being well cut.

One could argue that the whistling gave the operator of the lawnmower enjoyment and peace of mind/moment of of expression which made the task less mundane; and thus more of an experience with external purpose.

One form of logic doesn't negate that others might exist.

 

[sooey]

You could always get the same guy to cut a similar lawn with just a lawnmower and no whistling, and compare results.
Then he could cut another similar lawn with no lawnmower and just whistling and see what happens there too.

 

[Dextraneous]

You could always get the same guy to cut a similar lawn with just a lawnmower and no whistling, and compare results.
Then he could cut another similar lawn with no lawnmower and just whistling and see what happens there too.

True. Or perhaps he could try praying for the lawn to be cut - I guarantee that he would be successful if only he could find the right prayer

 

[sooey]

Makes you wonder what it was like before lawnmowers were invented, we most probably were all like the ellarewe tribe in africa.

 

[sooey]

Google is such a spoilsport these days.

 

[gregers]

Makes you wonder what it was like before lawnmowers were invented, we most probably were all like the ellarewe tribe in africa.

baaah

 

[JBR]

Of course prayer doesn't work. I've tried it and have never won a cent on the Lottery.

Mind you, we must remember that God moves in mysterious ways and that we are far too primitive to understand his motivations for what he does. We must just have faith and trust him.